Animal Species:Deepsea Blackdevil, Melanocetus murrayi Günther, 1887

Standard Common Name

Deepsea Blackdevil

Alternative Name/s

Murray's Abyssal Anglerfish

Identification

The Deepsea Blackdevil is a soft-bodied fish that lacks scales and pelvic fins. It has a large head and mouth, with long pointed teeth. There is a short illicium with a bulbous esca on the snout. Live fish are black.

Size range

Females grow to 12 cm in length but males only grow to 2 cm.

Distribution

The species occurs worldwide in deep tropical and temperate waters. In Australia the species has been collected from scattered localities off north-western Western Australia, but is almost certainly more widespread.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.